Apparatus for performing circumcisions



y 1944- A. B. CARMICHAEL 2,353,647

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING CIRCUMCISIONS Filed Sept. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-5heet l Inventor /75@ B. mmz'ck a el I Mia EM I y 18, 1944- A. B. CARMICHAEL 2,353,647

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING CIRCUMCISIONS Filed Sept. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1944' A. B. CARMICHAEL 2,353,647

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING CIRCUMCISIONS Filed Sept. 19, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Ina/enm- B 2mm WWW Em Patented July 18, 1944 APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING CIRCUMCISIONS Asa B. Carmichael, Tujunga, Calif.

Application September 19, 1942, Serial No. 458,964

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in instruments for performing circumcisions.

An important object of the invention is to provide an instrument which not only assures a bloodless operation but also serves to hold the fore-skin in a fixed circular position to facilitate the cutting operation.

Another i mportant'object of the invention is to provide an instrument which can be readily applied, clamped in position and subsequently removed with but a minimum amount of effort and expenditure of time.

Another important object of the invention is to afford an improved instrument where special sutures can be employed in a step by step manner to permit the performance of a quick and efiicient circumcision operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of th instrument.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the instrument applied with the prepuce between the rings and the handles still attached.

Figure 3 is a side elevational View after the arms and handles have been removed and the rings clamped in place.

Figure 4 is a side elevational View showing a short fringe of the prepuce left after the severing operation, and showing the clamp rings still in place.

Figure 5 is a front elevational View of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the rings and showing the arms.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational View with a portion in section showing the adjusting means for the outside ring.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9--9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the V-shaped connector.

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4 with one of the sutures applied.

Figure 12 is a front elevational view showing all of the sutures applied and the rings removed.

Figure 13 is a section on the line l3l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a suture applied.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the sutures in open position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in iii) certain of the views that numeral 5 denotes the shaft or body of a penis while numeral 6 denotes the glans or head thereof. Numeral l is the prepuce or fore-skin that is to be removed during the circumcision. The premise has an outer skin and a mucous membrane lining. At the inner end of the glans is the rim or rounded projecting border which is known as the corona.

In carrying out the present invention, an improved instrument such as is clearly shown in Figure 1 is provided. This instrument includes a V-shaped member 9 having a headed pintle l0 projecting laterally from its apex and havin sockets I I at its ends into which set screws l2, I2 are feedable to adjustably hold the ends of arms 13 in place.

The outer ends of these arms 13 are threaded as at M and fit into threaded recesses in a solid ring l5. l

Numerals I6, I! represent. crossed .handles, each of which has a slotted portion l8 for the reception of the pin it on the V-shaped member 9. The forward end of each of these handles I6, H has a socket 19 into which is feedable a set screw 29 which is adapted to be driven against the corresponding arm 2|, thearms 2l' project forwardly and have inwardly disposed foot portions 23 each threaded as at 24 for disposition into threaded sockets in diametrically opposite side portions of a split ring 25. This ring has a hollow end portion a for receiving the solid end portion 1), the solid end portion 1) having ratchet teeth 26 thereon with which a tooth 21 or detent on a spring strip 28 is normally engaged to hold the ring 25 in definite circular position. The spring 28 has a knob 29 whereby it may be operated, and the ring 25 at the inner end of the ratchet portion 1) also has a knob 30.

To hold the handles in closed position, a ratchet member 3! projects inwardly from the handle I1 and is engaged by a suitable spring detent 32.

It can now be seen, that with the instrument in the form shown in Figure 1, the inner ring I5 is slipped over the glans, and within the foreskin I, while the outer ring 25 is slipped over the fore-skin. Both rings are then pushed back to the corona 8, where the handles l6, I! are contracted, binding the ring 25 against the foreskin 1 and the latter against the inner ring I 5.

The set screws l2 and can now be removed, freeing the arms 13, 2| which can be subsequently removed from the rings 15 and 25. The handles l6, H can also be disconnected from the pin ID.

This leaves only the rings I5, in applied position as suggested in Figure 3.

The fore-skin is now clamped in such a manner that it can be cut by a scalpel, anteriorly of prepuce or foreskin. The fringe of the prepuce is slightly slit longitudinally at circumferential points to accommodate the sutures as shown in Figure 14. These are shown applied in Figure 12. Each suture is generally referred to by numeral 35 and consists of an elongated spring member.

The spring member has an arcuate or bowed portion 36 and a second bowed portion 31 which is of the same strip of material bent backwardly in opposed relation to the bowed portion 36. A spring clip head 39 is providedat the free end of the portion 31 for clipped disposition over the free end of the portion 36. The portion 36 has spurs 38 to bite into the flesh.

Figure 11 shows one of these sutures applied to the stump prepuce, while Figure 12 shows all of the sutures applied to prevent bleeding after the rings have been removed and this view shows the rings removed.

After the sutures have been properly placed, the rings are removed.

The prepuce or fore-skin 1 is preferably handled by hemostats 40.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

. extension at its other end disposed into the socket and detent means for engaging the ratchet structure.

2. A circumcision instrument comprising an I inner fixed ring, an outer adjustable ring, handles for manipulating the outer ring, means for holding the inner ring in concentric relation with respect to the outer ring, said means for holding the inner ring comprising a pair of arms removably attached to the inner ring and a V- shaped structure attached to the handles and provided with socket and retaining means for holding the inner ends of the arms.

3. A circumcision instrument comprising an inner fixed ring, an outer adjustable ring, handles for manipulating the outer ring, means for holding the inner ring in concentric relation with respect to the outer ring, said means for holding the inner ring comprising a pair of arms removably attached to the inner ring and a V- shaped structure attached to the handles and provided with socket and retaining means for holding the inner ends of the arms, and removable arms interposed between the handles and the outer ring.

' 'ASA B. CARMICHAEL. 

